Traffic signal



Nov. 17 1925- R. W. WILEY TRAFFI C S I GNAL Filed April 21, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet l @TOP ffy/Q f /NVEA/ro@ 944 w ha@ ay My @3/ /7 7'7'0RNEY5 Nov. 17, 1925. 1,562,400

R. W. WILEY 'lRAFFl C 5 IGNAL Filed April 2l,` 192] 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 irme/Veys Nm. 17,: 1925. A 1,562,400

R. w. WILEY 'l'RAFFI C S IGNAL Filed April 2l, 1921 5 Sheets-Shree?l 5 Q o o z WE/vrp@ R. W. WILEY Nov. 1'7I 1925- TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed April 21, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet L R. W. WILEY TRAFFIC SIGNAL Nov. 17,1925. i 1,562,400

Filed April 2l, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 :Eff

Il l.)

Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES RALPH W. WILEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TRAFFIC SGNAL.

Application filed April 2]., 19%1.

To all 'whom t may concern.

lle it known that I, RALPH W. VViLnY, :i citizen of the United States, and resident of the ci ty and county of San Francisco, State ol @alii-'ernia7 have invented iieivsind use- -fnl Improvements in Traffic Signals, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object oil? iny invention is lo secure an' efficient and reliable traitlic signal.

lily device enables vehicle operators zipproecliing a cross street to at once obserif'e the condition olf trailic thereon and enables the traiiic oliicer in charge oii the crossing to sig-nel suoli operators to secure unilorinity oi" trafific ino'venient by both :i sound and a visible signal.

Other objects Will appear' 'frein the drawings and specifications Which follow:

ily referring to the nccon'ipanying drawings niy invention will be ninde clear.

Fig. l illustrates a` front view ot' iny lraliic signal as assembled on a suitable support and indicating one style of casing and snl'iporting colunin and with the Word Stop in exposed view.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 and at 900 thereto.

VFig. 2l is a cross section in plan oll` Fig. l on the line llllll thereof.

l`ig. l is an enlarged 'lront view of the 'Inti-riorI parts oi' liig. 2, except that portions ol' the casing and signal ineniber have been reinoved to better display the interior construction.

Fig. is an enlarged detail ot certain oli the pui-ts of Fig. 4-, which cause the operation ot the signal ineniber.

Fig. (i is a tragnientary View si'niilaivlo liig. 5 :nid at right angles thereto.

liig. T is a. plan section on the Tll---Vl'l' of Fig.

vFig. 8 is a view of the guide bars and certain ol the ports ot Pigs. 5. (i, and 'i'.

Sl and 'lo :are elevation and plan i'iews oi' ceriain ol' the upper parts ol Fig.

and which paris i'orin ceigtain oi the circnit connections.

`Fig. i1 is a detail cross section ot' the latch nieniber shown iii 'full in Figs. l2, 15 and 1G.

F l2 shows the interlocking niecha` nisni and shutter by which the signal niay line Serial No. 463,103.

be closed troni view by reniote control when not in use, with the magnet bracket and support rod 3 turned at right angles to their true position 'lior illustrative purpose.

'Fig'. 13 is atront View of the lower portion of Fig. 12 in the direction ot the arrow XIII.

Fig. 14 is a plan section View ot certain of the latch members `for the interlocking ineclianisni and is teken on the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 12.

Figs. 15, 1G and 17-show the interlocking inechnnisni and latch of Fig. 11 in their several positions.

Fig. 18 shows in plan bell striking mechanism nionnted in the lower part of the signal of Fig. l and is a section taken on the line XVlIl-XVIII thereof.

Fig. 19 is a section oil? Fig. 18 on the line XTX-XIX and at right angles thereto.

Fig. 20 is :i fragmentary elevation of the gong striking latches oif Figs. 18 and 19.

Fig. 21 .is a Wiring diagram, showing diagraniniatically the circuit connections.

Figs. 22 and 23 show niy signal in use on street crossings.

'.llliroughout the ligures similar numerals relier to identical parts.

,Referring to Figs. el, 5 and (l. a solenoid is iniilicated by the nuinerzil 1 having in cooperation therei'vitli a vertical. moveable plunger Q. The solenoid is attached by suitable fastening nie-.fins to the standard il anchored at the top and bottoni o'i the Alranie or signal easing at 4L and 5 respectively. Carried upon the said standard is the lateral axial nieinber (S which tornis a` guide ior ay suitable slot n'iilled in extension oi' the plunger 2 so that the plunger 2 is tree to travel up :ind down within the solenoid l over the stationary aide il at the lower end and bearing i' the upper end. l (l the plunger is shown in lull lines L11 l. in its lower or released position :ind in dotted lines as n. El in its retrzicli-id position when the solenoid has been energized. Crfirried upon the plunger 2 is a l'iorizoiital. pivot 1l troni which are supported on each side olf the plunger the link ii'ienibers Sl and 10. These links are pivoted at 12 to the plates 13, 111.-, l5 and lo which :ire in. line with erich other and which are cro sconnected by bolts 15U-1I 1 und the shrink or' the ball member 17 and are rotatable upon the axle 6. By referring to Fig. 6 the plates are shown in full with the ball 17 in the extreme position to the right g' and by the dotted lines 13 in an intermediate position and by dotted lines 19 in the extreme opposite position; and during the travel from 13 to 1S) the ball member has traveled trom the full line position 17 to the dotted position 2O and thelinlc 9 has traveled first to the intermedi-ate position 21 when the plate 13 is in the dotted position 18- a'nd then toA the dotted position when the plunger has returned to the 'iull line position 2. rlhe ba-llmember 17 is clamped between plates and 2/1 (see Fig. 3) adapted to travel upon the guide rods 25 and 26 .so that as the ball member travels trom the position 17 to the position 2() ot Fig. 7 the guide bars are moved laterally from the full line positions 25 and- 26 tothe corresponr-ling dotted positions and said movement will take place in one direction or the other whenever' the solenoid'1 actnates the plunger' up and down andthrows the plates. The rods 25 and 26 are mounted integrally with the base plate 27 and the top plate 23 (see Fig. 1) and are adapted to rotate the trame work 2S) which adapted to receive the signal plates 301 and 31, 32 and 33, respectively 'forming a signal drum Figs. 3 and it). rFhe plates 13, 1st, 15 and 16, bound together as a unitary structure are mounted rigidly upon the axle 6 which is at right angles to the movement of the plunger, and have a limited nime-.ment l'roni the iull line position as 13'- in i3, to the dotted line position 1). Whenever the piajrnger is raised sulieiently to enable the ball shalt 161 to swing therel-unler. the links 9 and it), which noirmv "and hori- Zonta-.l to the lett or the rightoif' pivot ,11, depending upon whether the parts occupy the iiull line position or the dotted position` il'ormthe operative conneetion between the swinging plates and when the plunger is raised, the said plates swing about the axle 3 'from Ythe full line position as 13 on the lett, past the neutral point when the p is retracted to its greatest height due to the inertia swings to the rig. is lo the dottedposition rtl as the plu tails.

'lhis movement canses the ball. 17 to more 'trom the right to the le t, that from jf o,` iion 1T io position il). and inzit comi pels the oscillating nlovenient oi the d :is with its signal plates about the axis 3. '.lhe link S) is pivot/al betwecn plates .i3 and 11- and the link i() between plat-es 15 and 16. A second cycle of movement ot the plunger' causes a reverse movement ot the plates.

Plates 13 and 16 are held in spaced relation by the bolts 151 and 150 and plates 14 and 15 are held spaced respectively from 13 and 16 by the ball shaft 161 on the one end and at the other end by the pivotal connection with the links 9v and 10 in the conventional way.

It will now be seen that upon the actuation of the solenoid. the signal plates 3() and 32 which are exposed in the direction of thearrows 34 and 35, respectively, will be rotated out of position when the solenoid operates throwing the trame 29 in the direction oi" the arrow 36 and will be obscured behind the outer casing at 37 andl 33 respectively, and at suchtime the signal plates 31 and 33 Will have been operated into exposed position visible at 3ft andi lli-5 respectively. For night illumination the lamp 3S) properly supported inl a position behind the transparent signal plates, which are preferably made of glass, will illuminate any lettering thereon in1 the wel'l known way.

WThen the signalis not being used it is necessary to close the openings observable at 34 and 35 and this l accomplisl'i by the shutter 40 and 41, and said shutter lt() and r1 rotates in a clearance space between the rotatable plates oft the drinn as 32, 30' and the outer casing or frame 37, 38. The operation ot this shutter is ei'ilectedy through a separate circuit and bythe following mechanisni.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 11 to 17 inclusive, the magnet or solenoid is rigidly supported from the stand-ard 3' and has pivoted opposite to its core the arn'iatin-e 51 carrying an arm and roller wheel 52, the latter adapted to actuate the vertical rodi 523 which latter is aligned through stationary plates as 5&1, Carried upon the top plate 23 is the spring latch 56 havinga liriction engaging means 5-7 adapted to hold the latch in either itsI lower position 53 or its upper position 59. lVhile in itsflower position as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 said latch is clear of and below the plate 4:5 and when the signal plates are rotated to their limit position in the direction of the arrow 316 of Fig. 3 the latch 56 is in alignment with the socket carried in the plate 45, the sliultter ineinber now being open sothat the signal plates are exposed in the directions l-land 35 ol Fig. 3. 1f now the magnet 5() be energized the armature 51 will be attracted, the arm and roller 52 raised, which will canse the raising ol the rod 53, and the 'forcing upward oit the latch 56 until the friction piece 57 engages the lock groove 5S) and the hook `member 61 will at the same time he raised clear from the bolt socket 60y as described below. It' now the solenoid 1 be actuated the plate 28 will rotate oaposite to the direction of the arrow 36 ot Fig. 3 and the latch 56 being in coupled relation between the plates 23 and 45 will carry with it the itil) shutter plates 40, 41, Which have been released from the hook member 61. The shutter will therefore yrotate into a position such that the faces 40 and 41 Will obscure the openings 34 and 35 respectively, and the signal will be out of commission until the shutter is again opened. A suitable conventional clearance opening is provided in the plate 28 as shown at 160, so that the plate 28 being a portion of the drinn may oscillate without respect to the rod 61.

By referring to Figs. lt and 15 it will be seen that when the rod 53 is raised the latch plate G2 under the action of the spring 63 will engage against a shoulder on the said rod to hold the rod in its upper position, and when the hook member 61 is raised described below the second latch plate G11- Will engage under the collar 65 retaining the said hook member temporarily in its upper position, during which time the spring 66 is under compression.

The stationary plate serves to hold the spring 66 in compression to actuate the rod Gl. The plate 28 is also stationary, Whereas plate 45 is connected with the oscillating axis 3 and is latched by the hook rod 61 as described.

lVhen the solenoid 1 is again actuated the shutter will be returned to its full line position (see Fig. because of the latch 5G still being in engagement With the bolt socket (i in the rotatable plate d5. At G7 in Figs. 3 and la I have shown a tripping member which during the return movement lhere described in the direction of the arrow lt will lirst force the latch plate 62 from the dotted position back to the full position of Fig. 14 and Will therefore release the vertical rod &3 which Will now fall, and the trip (37 will thereafter strike the second latch plate (54- causing it to move into its full line position and releasing the hook member (il which is now acting under the compression of the spring G6, and as the plates 2S and t arrive at their extreme position, the hook member 61 Will fall into the socket as indicated in Fig. 15, causing` the latch 56 to be depressed until the lock groove 58 is engaged by the friction means 5T. The connection between plates 4:5 and 28 now being broken i5 remains at rest during subsequent action of the solenoid 1 and oscillation of the plate 28 and signal drinn until such time :is the magnet 5() may bc again energized.

ln order to prevent any damage to the apparatus and make its operation foolproof l have shown the rod .'33 jointed at G8 so that its extension end G9 under the action ot the spring 7l), may if it be in the up positiov when the plate 28 is rotated in the din of the arrow 3G and at such time is st ruck by the lower end of thelatch 5G, will be temporarily shifted from its full line position as to 4-2 Fig. 15 and upon its retraction will immediately and automatically restore itself into the full line position and be ready for actuation of the latch as previously described.

.l prefer to mount upon the rod the lug 71 which engages under the second lug i2 which latter is mounted upon the hook member 61 so that when the rod 53 is raised by the action of the magnet the rod (Si is carried With it, but when the rods are released from the latch mechanism of Fig. li@ by the trip 67 the rod may i'irst freely fall, independently of the rod 6i which latter is only later released from its plate (Bit. Also the rod G1 may move vertically as upon the sloped surface T3 without any actuation of the rod The action of the gong or sounding inechanism is as follows: Referring to Figs. 1H, 19, 20, on the plate 27 are the latch menibers and 81 carried in suitable sockets with compression springs and with convenient suitable stops to prevent their overtravel at 82 and 83, respectively. At 84 is a gong having hai'mi'iers 85 and 8G mounted respectively upon the pivoted arms 87 and 88 which arms are held contracted by the spring tif) against a stop 711. Une of these arms 8? is shown in dotted position in Fig. 18 with a hammer 85 carried on a spring arm 75 about ready to strike a blow. The arms ST and 38 are pivoted at 90, and carry the slide members 91 and 92 respectively. These slide members upon movement of the plates about the pivot il() describe an arc of greater radins than that within which the striking latches S0 and 8l rotate. It will now be seen that if the striking arm 8T occnpies the position as shown in Fig. 2O and the base plate 2T rotates in thc direction contrary to the arrow 36 the said lat-cli 80 acting against the face of the slide plate 91 will, carry the latter with it and therefore the arms Si', retract-ing the. hammer 85 to the dotted position (see Fig. 18). As the latch 8() moving on its arc of .shorter radius appreaches the dotted position it will clear the surface of the slide plate 91, and hammer will then strike a blow on the gong Sltlirongh the action of the spring` 89. The arm HT and plate 91 are now restored from their dotted position to their full line position. fit the sam-e time that the latch 8() occupies its dotted positioi'i the latch S1 will have been moved to the position of the latch Si) and will therefore be in position to cause the action of tl i plate 92 and arm 98 and the striking by the hamnier 8G, when the base plate 2T is rotated in the direction ol the arrow 36. When this last movement has taken place the latch 8() will ride up on the sloping surface of the plate 91 and fall into the position shown in Fig. 20 at the tern'iina-V tion of the movement, setting the parts for ltlll stat-ion.

striking the gong on a movement ot base plate 27 in a reverse direction.

In Figs. 9 and 10 are shown switch parts iny which 104. is a brush carried on` the rerti: cal member 3 and adapted toy alternately contact with the contact segments or blades 105 and 11,1. The brush 104v is carried. on. the osril-iatingmember 3, the blades 105 and 111 being mounted on conventional insulated supports from a. stationary part of the device. (tice also Fig. 21.) Circuit connections are shown diagrannnaticalliy in Fig.. 21. A source oit electricaly energy is indicated by the murieral 100 and oierating keys at 101, 102 and 103. The diagram illustrates two oi my signal devices ct'innected. in. parallel adapted tobe controlled. from a single point, it being understood that any number ot tl ,ia-ls may be operated troni a single ln Fig. I have shown four' oi my signals mounted at a street crossing and: at Fig. 23 a single. traiic signall device 1130 mounted at a street crossing. In` the latter instance it virili be understood that the sain-e signal is given'. onV both sides at the same time. 1n other wordsthcrewill be diametrically opposite to the exposed window ot' the signalv 35 a similar window and. signal plate and diaiuetrically opposite 3ft a similar signal plate, sce Fig. 3. The signa-l member in this case being continuous around the inner periphery oli the device and the shutter in this case being constructed to close or open all tour of the openings at the same time.

Assuming the .signal to have been out o. conuuission with the shutter 10 andi 41 closing all the openings and obscuring the sign-al. T he latch 50 will now be engaged with the plate 45 as indicated in Fig. 16. The brush 1041 willI be in engagement with. Contact segment 105. The operator throws .switch 102l contacting at 10G and closing the circuit through the lamp 39 to illuminate the signal. He then operates the double thro-w switch 10S to contact at 107. The current flows through the wire 108, segment 105, brush 104, wire 109, solenoid 1, wire 110, energizing the solenoid which actuates the plunger which throws the plate 28 in the direction oi? the arrow 36 as previously described. The signals being in parallel the same action takes place in all and the signal members as 28 and 28 will be rotated opposite the now exposed openings Si, respectively, and the lirst signals will be displayed. The brush 1041 will now have made contact withk the segment 111, the sole noid circuit will havebeen broken when the brush 104e was disengaged from segment 105 andthe current will automatically have been interrupted. To operate the signal again the double throw switch 103 is thrown to engage contact 112' which through wire 113, segments 111 and brush 104, wires109 and 1,562; icoV 110;y again encrgizes solenoid 1.y The parts having been in full line position ot Fig. t will' upon this energization be thrown into a dotted position 19-aindfy the plates 28, 2S will have rotated. in a direction. reverse` to. arrow 36', the circuit being automatically again interri-rpted whenthe brush ft leaves segment 111'.I @1r the lirst of the above movements in the direction of 36 the trip 6T will have operated the latches (132l and (S releasing bolt tromi engagement with plate so that the shutter is left ini its open position; aftter which the second and any further n'ioveineirts. take place, thel signaling bein-g accompliishedY as often as mayy be desired by the incitement oil the plate 28 in one direction or the other through the operation o i? the double throw switch 103. to either contact 10T or 112i as maybe required.

li-Vhcn thc signalis to bcclosed for the day the parts. are first to bei set by the switch 103 cont-acting at 107 which causes the plate 28 to, rotate-finto the position so that the shtitter actuated parts are in theposition shown in Fig.v 15, The operator now depresses key 101 which actuates magnet 50 raising the rod 53 and engaging latch 56 with plate 15 and disengaging hook 61 therefrom. The double throw switch 103 is now contacted with 1112lv and plate 2S and, shutter plate 4,5 rotated in the opposite direction to the arrow causing the shutter plates as 10 and 'jf-1 to rotate in front o the openings 351. and 235. respiwtvely, and closing the signal.

In utilizing my invention it will be clear that any signals as Stop or Gro or any other desired characters may be placed upon; the signall plates., In F ig. 1 I have indicated the word Sto-p as` being tally exposed in one direction at the Sametime that the word Go is indicated: in the direc-tion at right angles thereto. Such au arrangement o-'l signals would be suited to the use ot my invention in a signal device at a street crossing as indicated at 130 in Fig. 23. lhere the municipal traltic is heavy or the crossing wide I prefer to introduce iour of my signal devices as indicated 'in' I? ig. 22 and in the upper part of said. figure I have indicated at 120 a street cia-.r and at 121, 122, respectively, automobiles which have been held up by the setti-ng of the signal 123. In such a position as this I prefer to expose the same signal on both faces 34: and 35; that is; the setting here shown presupposes the signal having indicated the word Stop at both faces 311 and 35. The motornian oi the car 120 is relatively close to the signal in the losition shown and can. readily read the small figures, whereas a motorist in the position 124i would ber unable to read the small lettering exposed: at 35 and will therefore not be deceived thereby, but will depend upon the indications in his adjacent signal at 125. Vith the parts set as here neeaeoo shown it is 'indicated that both signal plates in the signal stat-ions 123 and 127 shall iiidicate the word Stop, and that both plates in each et the signals 125 and 126 shall indicaiel the word ilo. Traliic will then be open in the horizontal direction ot the ligure and will be closed in the. vertical direction of the ligure. The street car at 120 will be able to sec clearl)v the signal in and upon a shiil'ting; oill the plates 28 in the four stations 123, i25, l26, and 12T by the operation oit the double throwv switch 103 'from contract 107 to contract 112 all tour of the signal plates as 2S will rotate, reversing the respective signals. closing the traliic on the horizontal line ot' the ligure. and opening traliic on the vertical line.

Should the signal operator desire to stop all traiiic as in the event of clearing a way for lire apparatus, the signals on all tour corners (Fig. must now be set to indi late lStop.

Referring to Fig. 21 it will be seen that when the signal plate 28 ol" the corner signal 122-3 has rotated in the direc-tion o'l the arrow 36 to set the signa-l at, say, tio the signal plate 28 ot the corner signal 125 will have rotated to indicate Steph Non' in the event of lire the trarl'lic signal at 123 must be set 'to indicate Stop without interferring with the present setting of the corner signal at 125. This is accon'iplished by the operator opening the switch at 135. This opens the circuit oli the corner signal 125 which stands at Stop and the switch 103 'is now operated so that the corner signal 121-3 is now opeinted and is thrown also to inw dicate Stop and all traflic is halted at the crossing:

l claim:

l. In a tratlic signal, a` casing, a. drinn, means mounting` said drinn for oscillation about a vertical axis within the 'asinp` to two signalingl positions7 means lor nioviiig the drinn l'roin one position to the other comprising' a` solenoid having,` a vertically reciprocatin-pr pliiiuger, a rock sh ait't mounted 'for oscillation about a horizontal axis and having' a connection with said drum, a link connecting,` said rock shaft and said plunger whereby Va complete movement ot said plunger into and out of said solenoid moves the signal from one. position to the other.

2. In a traliicsignal, a casing9 a signal drum. means mounting said drinn to oscillate within a casing, a shutter interposed be tween the drinn and the casing and a disengagcable device for connecting the shutter and the drum whereby the drum may be rotated with or independently of the shutter.

3. In a tra'llic signal the combination set forth in claim 2 and electromagnetic means associated with said device and adapted to actiiate said device to connect or disconnect the drum. and slii'it'ter iriespectiyely.

ln a traliic signal, a rotatable signal drinn inoiinied on a vertical axis within a casingri, means for oscillatiiig` said drinn comprising. a. solenoid having; a vertically po-zitioned reciproratinir plunger, a. horizontal oscillatinff roch shaft and connection -troni to said drinn, an arm on said and a link between said arm and said nj ir whereby as the plunger makes a procatingj movement under the action oit solenoid the rock sha'l't is oscillated troni one i-fide to the otheia shutter interposed between the drinn and the casing and means between the shutter and' the drinn adapted to engage and to disengage the shutter and drinn.

In a trailic signal the combination set forth in claim l and electromagnetic means constructed and adapted to actuate said device.

ti, l tra'flic signal7 ,comprisingv a casing;` havingy an opening, a drinn mounted to oscillate within the casing: and having thereon a plurality of signal iliaracters which are respectively exposed through said opening` when the drum is oscillated, means mounting; the drinn to oscillate to two positions and other means for oscillating;` the drinn, a shutter between the drum and casing; and movable to cover the said openings to obscure the drinn characters, and mechanism between the drinn and shutter whereby the drinn and shutter are connected. to move together or disconnected to allow of independent movement.

7. A trallic signal comprising the comination set forth in claim G and electric actiiated means constructed and adapted to oscillate said other ineai'is.

t3. traihc signal comprising the conibination sel` forth in claini (i and electric actuated means coiistrilifted and adapted lo of-iiillatc said other means and other electric actuated iii/cans i .iatingr said meclninisni.

9. A trallic sileial, coini'irisinp a casing havii a plurality oi opiininp's, a drinn mounted to oscillate within the casing and having thereon a plurality of signal characters which are respectively exposed through said openings when the drinn is oscillated, means mounting;` the drinn to oscillate to two positions and other means for oscillatingthe drum, a shutter between the drinn and casingand movable to cover the said openings to obscure the drum characters, and mechanism between the drum and shutter whereby the drum and shutter are connected to move together or disconnected to i allow of independent movement.

10. A traffic signal comprising the combination set 'forth in claim 9 and electric actuated means constructed and adapted to oscillate said other means.

11. A traitic signal, comprising a casing lll) having a plurality of openings, a drinn mounted to 'osellate within the easing and having thereon a plurality of signal chaiaeteis which 'are `respectively exgosed through Saifl openings when the drum is oseillateel, means mounting the dfn-1n to oseillate to two ,positions and other means loi oscillating the drum, a shutter between the drum and`easng and movable to cover the said openings to l'ebseme the shaun fehai'- 1U meters, and mechanism between the drum and shutter whereby the `drum 'and slnirfftes aie connected fto nli'ove together oi' limonnfeeteel to allow of independent n-lovemenl, and eleeti'io aotuateil means aotmating` sail l5 mee'hanism.

RALPH W. WILEY. 

